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Ironworker Project Complete

04-04-2010, 09:18 AM

Now, here is a project. I admit it doesn't have a lot to do with welding, more like revitalization of an abused tool for use in welding. Look very closely to see how this guy was using it. It had no switches, you just plugged it in. All guards were removed, but we have all done that from time to time.

This poor thing was really abused by a guy who built trailers for a living. His shop looked about the same. Fortunately for us all he went into real estate after that.

Pix of before and after (I even got decals for it). Lots of hours went into it. I even painted it with their two part paint and was I surprised to find it was a wrinkle finish. It came out fine, but it was the first wrinkle finish I have ever done. I had bed liner sprayed on the lower part where it really gets beat up from metal dropping.

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Most of them just 7" and 4" angle grinders with grinding disks and then sanding disks with rubber back plates. I did use an orbital sander quite a bit later.

The bottom metal shrouds were in pretty bad shape since they get hit by metal. I heated some of the spots with a torch and pounded them out. The black truck bed coating covered a multiple of sins and really quieted the thing down.

One of the hardest things was getting the greasy residue off it. Nothing seemed to cut it very well. It would really plug up sanding disks. I can imagine the former owner's lungs must have looked the same. Had I to do it over again I would have stripped it to the frame and had it sand blasted.

The two part paint provided by Scotchman was great. I also got a two part primer from an industrial paint supply. Basically it was down to metal pretty much everywhere before I started the priming.

Scotchman was a great help with their diagrams and their consultation. When you get a machine like this that has been Jerry rigged like it had been you need help. Their online things are great. Some things had changed, however, like the electrical switch which I had to modify a bit.
Jim

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I was wondering how critical the clearances were on the shear. I believe I saw one seventh of the thickness of the metal.

Jim

I have no idea on your ironworker, on real shears you generally adjust the clearance to the size of the metal. That being said, you can usually get away with setting a shear, and going up or down a few sizes either way, without readusting each time. You run into problems, though, if you are set for say 1/2" metal, and try to shear 16 gauge. Also vice-versa.

Obviously, I'm just a hack-artist, you shouldn't be listening to anything I say .....

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I took a TIG class at a local community college and they had this huge ironworker that automatically adjusted clearances. That was nice, I must admit.

They also had a huge shear that was semi-automated. That was even nicer.

For a small machine, this one is not too bad.

I think back when I had almost no tools. The first project I made after moving to Oregon was a wine press that I made with an old Airco buzz box, a radial arm saw, a saber saw, a hack saw, and a router.

I finished it with a black epoxy. It came out really nice. My daughter put it in a local fair some years later and it won second prize. Maybe I will post it sometime.

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Also, I would appreciate it if you could tell me what you use it most for. I have thought about picking up a few attachments.

Jim

I grew up with a father who was a well driller in Colorado and I know what it is like to be colder than a well driller's butt.

Sorry I don't, used one in the cc I went to welding class for and the shop where I worked at. Used it to punch holes for railing, shear of corners, and to chop flat bar into coupons.....I"ll ask my buddy about the tolerances and get back with you or he'll answer.........
bert

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It is funny how those things happen. Usually I get the things that are shot or I have to replace it with a better one.

I do have a "never forgive you" list, like most husbands. What disappears most from her kitchen is pyrex measuring cups which are great for measuring paint.

Then there are events. One was when I was falling a tree and so concentrated on getting to fall I almost dropped in on her. I yelled at the last moment and she moved. I don't really think it was that close but she did.